Successful implementation could prolong, and save, many lives a year across UK.

The Joint British Thoracic Society/Intensive Care Society Guidelines which have been published online as a supplement to ‘Thorax’, provide evidence-based advice for emergency department, respiratory and intensive care health professionals on managing acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) – a condition in which there is a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood...

The full Guideline, is available here http://tinyurl.com/j767gly and a summary PowerPoint presentation is also available in the related links.

The Guidelines were produced by the British Thoracic Society/Intensive Care Society Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Guideline Development Group. The Guideline has been endorsed by The Royal College of Physicians, London, The College of Emergency Medicine and The Royal College of Anaesthetists."